how can you tell if your 3 year old is hyperactive?

Answer 1

i think most 3year olds are hyperactive. its called being normal. id worry more if your 3 year old sat in a chair and did nothing. There are too many people wanting to label our children with this that or the other just to keep them selves in a job. Remember you are your child's advocate if you say their alright then it makes it more difficult for other to criticise them.

Answer 2

Forget this hyperactive nonsense.

Kids have bundles of energy and if an adult can't cope with it that's not the child's problem.

Having said that: Additives can send some kids absolutely nuts. So if you're having a problem, stop them drinking carbonated drinks and any sort of squash, use only genuine fruit drinks without additives. (Or milk or water, of course.)

Don't give them any sweets, crisps or anything like that -- except, maybe, as the occasional treat (occasional means once per month, not once per day). No sweets with colourings or flavourings. If they're hungry give them fruit -- bananas, oranges, apples, grapes.

Food: do real food. Avoid pre-packaged quick meals (they are way too expensive anyway). We feed two adults and two kids on 50 pounds per week, and cook proper meals with lots of meat and veg.

If you continue having problems get hold of Dr Tanya Byron's books like this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Angels-Essential-Transforming-Children/dp/056351941X

The important thing is: Almost any problem an adult has with a child is -- sorry but it's true -- the adult's fault and Dr Byron proves this again and again and again. There is no hyperactivity, there is no ADHD, there is no ADD, it's all caused by how the child is treated by adults. She proves it because she modifies the children's behaviour by changing the way the parents behave, not by doing anything to the kids.

Oh yes, and if there is still a problem (after genuinely applying all the above) you can have them checked for food allergies.

Answer 3

Most 3 year olds qualify as balls of energy. My son is either going 100 miles per hour or he's asleep, nothing in between. All or nothing!

Here is info from babycenter.com:
"Toddlers are an active bunch. And because they have lots of energy to burn, many of them are just like your little one, unable to sit in one place for long. That's why traditionally doctors reassure parents not to worry about hyperactivity at this age, and have rarely diagnosed children under the age of 5 with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)."

READ MORE OF THIS AT: http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/expert/preschooler/pbehavior/6890.html

Answer 4

a 3yr old is allowed to have TONS of energy. hyperactivity is so overly and unnecessarily diagnosed. you can harness positively the energy for exercise, dancing running, jumping and playing. don`t even think about if for a couple of years!!!

Answer 5

This would be something you should discuss with your doctor, not here...Do not be in a hurry to lable you child as hyper! And don't fall into the ADHD/ADD lable trap either!!! You may just have a child with alot of energy. Or maybe you have too much sugar in the diet or too many or too long of nap times.

Answer 6

Most doctors wont say that he is adhd or add until he is 5 or 6! You also have to remember that he is a 3 yr old and they tend to have alot of energy!!

Answer 7

just take some speed and try to keep up! lol

it will pass, all kids at that age are on the go all the time. very short attention span. everything is something new and so much to see and do! if you can keep his mind occupied the body does not need to be on the go so much. we used to do a lot of singing, in your face stuff. but sometimes its hard to hold the attention of one so young.

Answer 8

Like previouis answers avoid all sugars and fruit juice for a couple of days and see how they behave. I know that fresh apple Juice send some kids loopy also. Good luck to you.

Answer 9

take him/her to the health visitor.

if its because he/her doesnt listen to you then they might have abehaviour prob. if its coz he/her are constantly running around and dont nap in the day then maybe you need to think if its anything your doing.

try not give him/her sweets, exchange them for chopped fruit or something. no pop, give water and juice.

make the child have a hour nap in the afternoon. it gives you an hour time and it tells the child your in control and he/her is to do what you say children under 5 should have a small nap in afternoon.

speak about this to your helth visitor, she is more help than a gp

Answer 10

I agree with fulffy up there. But also remember that 3 year olds are just hyper anyway. They just want to have fun!